Viewed in
2009
Premise
In an effort to tank the season, the malevolent owner of a professional baseball team hires a motley crew of misfits. But things are derailed when they start winning.
Who should watch
Fans of goofy sports comedies.
Thoughts
Considering its popularity, I was underwhelmed by its mediocrity and dated-ness.
The cast of 'Major League' was the best thing about it. There was a skinny Wesley Snipes doing his best Eddie Murphy impression, Charlie Sheen as Wild Thing being badass with bad haircut, and a young Renee Russo. There was Tom Berenger and Corbin Bernsen, who I've been told were big stars in the 1980's (though I could not tell them apart). I was shocked to find President Palmer of '24', Dennis Haysbert, in a rather embarrassing role. My favorites were the walrus-mustached manager (James Gammon) and the scene-stealing alcoholic game announcer (Bob Uecker).
Unfortunately, parts of the movie were so bad and incredulous that I think it would score well in the Unintentionally Comedy Scale (and rising). The worst was the predictable and creepy subplot of Berenger's character attempting to win back his ex-wife. Also, Dorn's wife subplot made no sense whatsoever.
Watching it 20 years later, I do not know what made this movie so popular to spawn two sequels.
What I would change
You expect me to believe a movie when Wild Thing starts wearing glasses, and nobody - and I mean NOBODY - gives him crap (not even a 'four-eyes' dig)?
Random
If you look in the lower left hand corner of a certain celebration scene, there is a fat kid trying to get high fives from others, but they avoid him like the plague, forcing him to do the awkward solo celebration. That slayed me.
